UFC 102 Live Play By Play – Randy Couture Vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
We’ll have live play by play of UFC 102. I’ll refresh the site after every round.
Though we don’t have a ton of votes in our poll, Randy Couture was the heavy favorite. Not too many people are giving Big Nog a shot.
It looks like we’re opening up with Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski. I hope Vera doesn’t wear those short tight shorts.
1. Brandon Vera vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
Vera’s shorts are short, but he’s not smuggling bananas thankfully.
Soszynski came out early and aggressive until Vera hit him with a body kick. Vera kept him at bay for the rest of the round, with the exception of when they clinched, but Soszynski wasn’t able to stay inside. Vera wins the round with some pinpoint kicks.
Vera controlled the second round too. Soszynski is trying to push Vera but Vera’s being very careful, and whenever Soszynski tries to get in close, Vera’s slippery. Boring fight, but it’s at Vera’s pace and his pace is slow and methodical these days.
Vera picked it up just a little bit and it was his most impressive round. He took Soszynski down and pounded on him a bit. Good performance by Vera in a very methodical kind of way.
Winner: Brandon Vera by way of unanimous decision
2. Demian Maia vs. Nate Marquardt
Holy crap. Maia came in with a kick and took a huge right hand from Marquardt. And it’s over.
Winner: Nate Marquardt by way of 1st TKO
3. Chris Leben vs. Jake Rosholt
Leben ended up chasing Rosholt and not really being able to catch him. Rosholt’s straight right was the best shot of the round. Leben fell into a takedown, but didn’t do much. Rosholt caught him with a right hand as he was trying to get up. Rosholt’s round.
The second round was really good. Leben landed a huge left hand, but Rosholt went down and they went to the ground, which isn’t where Leben necessarily wants to be because he wants to throw huge lefts. They both brawled near the end of the round and it was the best action of the show thus far.
Wow. Rosholt caught him in an arm triangle and Leben went to sleep.
Winner: Jake Rosholt by way of 3rd round submission
4. Tim Hague vs. Todd Duffee
Hague tried to lead with a looping hook which left him wide open and Duffee threw a straight jab that knocked him on his butt. Duffee followed it up with punches on the ground and Hague was done. Some of these guys need to learn how to box.
Winner: Todd Duffee by way of 1st round TKO
5. Thiago Silva vs. Keith Jardine
Jardine looked terrible. This isn’t the same guy who beat Chuck Liddell. Silva threw a left hook and dropped Jardine. He followed up with ground and pound and a left hand knocked Jardine out.
Winner: Thiago Silva by way of 1st round decision
6. Ed Herman vs. Aaron Simpson
Awesome first round. On two occasions, it looked like Herman could be on his way out. Simpson had him down twice and the first time, Herman got him with an upkick. The second time, Simpson just couldn’t follow up for whatever reason. Near the end of the round, his knee looked to give out a bit.
In the second round, Herman tried to come out, but his knee immediately gave out and the fight was over.
Winner: Aaron Simpson by way of 2nd round TKO
Simpson looked good.
7. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Randy Couture
This might be the best first round of the year, except for maybe Clay Guida and Diego Sanchez. These guys slugged it out. Big Nog dropped Randy at one point and went for a choke. He looked bad, but withstood it and Nog let go. They went toe to toe for much of the last half of the round. At one point, Couture held his head with his right hand and threw three or four straight rights that landed with his left. Both guys are taking huge punishment. This is the best Nog we’ve seen in the UFC.
The second round was just as good, but a lot of it was on the ground. Nog got him in a guillotine after a big right hand, but let go. Randy got the takedown and had the top position, but Nog switched positions immediately into the mount. He had Randy in an arm triangle and Randy fought it. Nog is up 2-0.
Nog put him down with a big shot and Randy’s body went limp. Nog followed him to the ground and tried to end it and Randy insanely survived. Nog had him down and was trying to hold him, but Couture fought his way back on top and into Nog’s guard. That was everything the fight could’ve been expected to be and then more.
Winner: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
The show was very solid before the main event, and the main event was one of the best fights of the year.
Well my pick of Maia was way off.